Plate-tightener



F. N. HALLETYT.

PLATE TIGHTENEB.

APPLICATION FILED nic, u. 191s.

Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

f ,111 wg.

FRED N. H ALLBTT, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR T0 CONSTRUCTION APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON.

rL'sTn-TIGHTENER. e

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that FRED N. HALmrr'r, a citizen of the United States, residing .at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Tighteners, of which the following is a specicatlon.

My invention relates to a machine to draw lates, such as the steel plates secured to the ull of a ship, into close proxlmity to each other, prior to niveting, so that this work may be carried out in a proper manner.

An important object of the lnvention 1s to provide a machine of the above mentioned character, which is convenient to operate and quick in such operation, besldes .belng of simplified construction.

Other'objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent durmg the course of the following-description. Y

In the accompanying drawings forming a part Vof this specification and in whlch like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same',

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, parts beingl shown in section, and,

Fig. 2 1s a plan view of the same, parts being shown in horizontal section, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherem for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, -the numeral 5 designates a cylinder, within which is mounted to reciprocate a piston 6.A Fluid pressure 1s supplied into and exhausted from one end of the cylinder 5 by means of a pipe 7, equipped with a cut-off valve.

My apparatus further comprises a cyllndrical. shaft 9, the free end of whlch 1s preferably tapered, as Vshown at 10. The shaft is provided near this tapered end with a transverse opening 11, receiving a large cotter pin 12. The free end of the shaft 9 is adapted to be inserted through openings 13 in the overlapping edges of steel plates 14, these openings belng formed for the reception of the rivets. At its opposite end, the shaft 9 is provided with a head 15, as shown.

The numerals 16 and 17 designate cross heads, provided withy openings 18 for the reception of the shaft 9. This shaft may be removed from these openings and a shaft of a different diameter inserted therein. Each cross head comprises a pair of spaced side plates 19. These side plates of the lower cross head 17 have extensions 20, to contact with the steel plate 141,A as shown.

A toggle joint structure is provided to move the cross heads away from each other, comprising pairs of toggle arms 21 and 22. The outer ends of these toggle arms are arranged within the side plates 19 of the cross heads, and pivoted thereto, as shown at 23. The transverse pair of toggle arms 21 are provided at thelr inner ends with palrs of heads or knuckles 24 and 24', as shown. These pairs of knuckles receive therebetween heads or knuckles 25, carried by the inner ends of the transverse pair of toggle arms 22, the same being pivotally connected by pins 26.

The pair of heads24: are provided upon their outer edges with recesses or notches 27, recelving the transverse portion 28 of a U-shaped pitman 29, extending into the cylinder 5 and connected with the piston 6.

The pair of heads 24 are seated within a curved recess 30, formed in a lug or support 31, attached to the end of the cylinder 5, and arranged within the U-shaped pitman 29.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

When the toggle arms 21v and 22 are arranged in the open position, as shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 9 is passed through the openings 13 f the plates 14. The cbtter-pin 12 is now inserted within the opening 11.

Fluid pressure is now supplied into the cylinder 5 rearwardly of the piston 6, causing it to move to the right. The U-shaped pitman 29 is now moved to the ri ht wherey the toggle joint arms are moved inwardly toward each other and the cross heads moved away from each other. It is obvious that this action will draw the plates 14 together. When the fluid pressure is exhausted from the cylinder 5, the opposite of this operation takes place.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described,

a shaft adapted to be passed through openings in plates to element carried by the shaft to engage one plate, and toggle means engaging the other plate and connected with the shaft to -force the two plates together.

2. ln a machine of the character described, a shaft adapted to be passed through openings in plates t0 be drawntogether and provided near one end With a transverse opening, a transverse stop element adapted to-be inserted Within the transverse opening to engage with one plate, toggle means engaging With the other plate and connected with the shaft, and means to operate the toggle means.

be drawn together, a stop Mesones 3. In a machine ofthe character described, a shaft adapted to be passed through openings in plates to be drawn together, a` stop element carried by the shaft and engaging one plate, cross heads carried by the shaft with one cross head engaging the other plate, pairs of toggle arms having their outer ends pivoted with the cross heads and their inner ends pivotally connected with each other, a cylinder, a piston to move therein., and a Ushaped pitman surrounding the toggle arms and engaging the toggle arm in one pair.

ln testimony whereof I -afx my signature.

'FRED N. HALLETT. 

